Tracy McGrady has no hard feelings after former coach Jeff Van Gundy questions his work ethic

AP File PhotoJeff Van Gundy coached Tracy McGrady when they were with the Houston Rockets.

Tracy McGrady said he has no hard feelings toward a former coach who on Friday said McGrady fell short of his potential because of a questionable work ethic.

Jeff Van Gundy, who coached McGrady when both were with the Houston Rockets, made the comments Friday during the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston.

“It doesn’t even matter,” McGrady said Saturday following practice. “I don’t take it as an insult or a jab at me at all. That’s how I receive it.”

The comments came during a panel discussion on the theory that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve greatness.

“Tracy McGrady was 1,000 hours of practice,” Van Gundy said. “He should be a Hall-of-Fame player. His talent was other-worldly. He was given a leg up in the race against other players.”

McGrady was not upset with Van Gundy. In fact, he had kind words for his former coach.

“Jeff by far is my best coach — I’ve always said that,” McGrady said. “I’ve told him that, and I talk to him to this day. For what Jeff says, being as talented as I was and is, for him to say that I didn’t reach my full potential because of practice habits? If that’s what he saw … I don’t have anything negative to say about that. That’s his personal opinion.”

Van Gundy called McGrady the “most gifted player I’ve ever had on a roster.”

“I like a lot of things about Tracy McGrady,” he said. “I just wish I could have changed his practice habits and his mentality.”

Wizards rookie to make Palace debut
Rookie point guard John Wall will make his debut at The Palace on Sunday when the Pistons host the Wizards. The top pick in the 2011 draft did not play for the Wizards in their first trip to Detroit this season because of a left foot sprain.

“(He is) as fast as any guard up and down the court as there is in the league,” Kuester said. “He’s going to be outstanding. He’s got a bright future.”

Wall was averaging 15.4 points and 8.9 assists per game heading into his team’s game Saturday night against Minnesota.

Prince returns
Tayshaun Prince is expected to return to the starting lineup today when the Pistons host the Washington Wizards.

“He’s had some good practices,” Pistons coach John Kuester said, “so we’ll probably put him in the lineup.”